Step stool



Patented y Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED i STATES PATENT oEFlcE LABAN W. HARTER,F NILES, MICHIGAN Application filed October 23, 1926. nSerial No.143,605.

`The main object of this invention is to provide an improved step stoolfor household and factory use which may be economically formed of metaland at the same time is not unduly heavy and is strong and rigid.

A further object is vto provide a stool of this class in which the stepmay be readily extended or collapsed and when extended is very firmlysupported and also is effectively retained in collapsed position.

Objects pertaining to details and economies `of my improvements willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow. The inventionis clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisapplication, inwhich: c Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved stepstool with the step collapsed.

,Fig 2 is a side view with parts shown in section and the step inextended position.A

line of Fig. 1 showing details of the seat mounting.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the stepon a line corresponding to line 4-4 ofFig.1

. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to thelbroken line 5-5 of Fig. 3. p

Fig. 6 is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Fig.2. i

Referring to the drawing, the legs 1 are formed of tubing and arepreferably outwardly curved at their lower ends to provide stability.The upper ends of the legs are `flattened at 2 to provide a flat surfacefor the attachment of the bed pieces 3. These bed pieces are formed offlat strips or bars having downturned ears 4 at their ends formed torest against the sides of the flattened portion 2 of the legs. The earsare arranged on opposite 45. to by rivets 5.

, The top 6, which is a metal stamping, is arranged on the bed membersanda secured thereto by spot welding indicated at 7. `The upper sides ofthe bed piecesb are disposed in Fig. 3 is a section on linecorresponding to sides of the legs and are rigidly secured therec thesame plane and preferably flush with the c endsof the legs as shown inFig. 5. y

fThe legs are connected by the braces 8 which have laterally turned ears9 disposed on opposite sides of the legs andsecured by the rivets 10.The legs are disposed in a triangular relation so that there is one rearleg and a pair of front legs.

lA slideway 11 extends fromthe rear leg to the cross piece `connectingthe front legs. This slideway has a downturned end `12 at its front endsecured 4to the front crosspiece by the rivet 13, and a downturned rearend 14 secured to the rear leg by the rivet 15.`

A triangular step member 16 is provided having a loop-lileslide 17 onits under side slidably engaging the part 11. At its front end the stepmember is provided with a pair of legs 18; vThese legs are provided attheir upper ends withbed pieces 19 and 20 secured i to the legs inthesame manner as the bed pieces 3` of the seat, the step being secured tothese bed pieces by spot welding as indicated in Fig. 4. y

The step has a downturned flange 21 at its edges, the llange beingnotched at 22 to engage the slideway 11. This notch ceac-ting with theloop limits the lateral swing of the step on the slide. The flange 21 isformed into cams 23 so that when the step is pushed rearwardly, thesecams engaging the front i legs 18 from the floor.

The flange has a notch-like keeper 24e which engages the cross piece,retaining the step in its collapsed position so that the step will notextend or slide forwardly ,without its being lifted to disengage thiskeeper orlock. Vhen extended the step is very lirmly supported by thecross piece and its legs. Braces 25 are provided for the` legs 18.

My improved step stool may be made of comparatively light material andat the same time is very strong and rigid, and is well adapted forVdomestic or factory use.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a stool, the combination with a seat ico tion to provide a singlecentrally disposed rear leg and a pair of front legs, a cross piececonnecting said front legs, a slideway extending from Asaid cross pieceto the rear leg, a triangular step member having a slideway engagingloop disposed on its under side and adjacent the rear end thereof, and apair of legs Vfor the front end of said step member, said step memberhaving a downturned flange at its edges slotted at the re'arto're- Aceive said slide and cammed at the sides to coact with said cross piecein elevating the legs of the step member when the step is collapsed,said flange being notched to engage said cross piece for retalning thestep in its collapsed position.

2. n a stool, the combination with a seat and legs therefor, a crosspiece connecting a pair of said legs, a slideway extending inwardly fromsuch cross'piece, a step member slidably connected to said slideway, apair of legs for the outer end of said step member, said step memberhaving a cam on its under side coacting with said cross piece to`elevate the. stepmember when thestep member is collapsed, and anautomatically engaging keeper noting to hold said step member in itscollapsed position.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hnmil.` Y

. i LABAN W. HARTER.

